Islamabad: Pakistan has decided to seek exemption from possible US sanctions against its billion-dollar project to build a pipeline to import cheap gas from neighboring Iran. The Petroleum Minister has given this information. According to the news of ‘Dawn’ newspaper, Petroleum Minister Dr. Mussadiq Malik said that the government will seek exemption from US sanctions for the billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. “We will seek exemption from US sanctions,” he told reporters on Monday evening. Pakistan cannot afford sanctions on the gas pipeline project.
Didn’t ask for discount
This development occurred after US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu had recently said in a US Parliament hearing that Pakistan has not yet sought exemption for the 1,150 km long gas pipeline. Malik said the government will strongly raise Pakistan’s case on technical, political and economic grounds at relevant forums, including lobbying. He also expressed hope that the project work will start soon while fulfilling the contractual obligations with Iran. Malik’s comments contrast with the stance of the Foreign Office, whose spokesperson told a press conference last week that there was no scope for discussions or seeking exemptions with any third country.
India separated
According to the report, an official said that the caretaker government delayed the request for exemption from US sanctions due to the changing geopolitical situation, although its draft had been finalized. Pakistan and Tehran signed an agreement in May 2009 to supply 750 million cubic feet per day of gas from Iran’s South Pars gas field for 25 years. Both the countries have to implement the project in their respective areas. India was initially involved in the project and it was named India-Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline, but India later withdrew from it and it remained a bilateral project between Pakistan and Iran.
Iran did the work
As per the agreement, gas supply by the project was to start from January 2015. Iran has constructed more than 900 km of the pipeline, while the remaining 250 km is yet to be completed. In August last year, Pakistan had temporarily put the gas pipeline project on hold, possibly due to pressure from the US. America had imposed sanctions on Iran regarding its nuclear programs. If Pakistan does not implement the project, Iran will have the option to approach the Paris-based International Court of Arbitration. Language
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